49 U.S. Code § 46311 - Unlawful disclosure of information

(a) Criminal Penalty.— The Secretary of Transportation, the Under Secretary of Transportation for Security with respect to security duties and powers designated to be carried out by the Under Secretary, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration with respect to aviation safety duties and powers designated to be carried out by the Administrator, or an officer or employee of the Secretary, Under Secretary, or Administrator shall be fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than 2 years, or both, if the Secretary, Under Secretary, Administrator, officer, or employee knowingly and willfully discloses information that—

(1)the Secretary, Under Secretary, Administrator, officer, or employee acquires when inspecting the records of an air carrier; or

(2)is withheld from public disclosure under section
40115 of this title.

(b) Nonapplication.— Subsection (a) of this section does not apply if—

(1)the officer or employee is directed by the Secretary, Under Secretary, or Administrator to disclose information that the Secretary, Under Secretary, or Administrator had ordered withheld; or

(2)the Secretary, Under Secretary, Administrator, officer, or employee is directed by a court of competent jurisdiction to disclose the information.

(c) Withholding Information From Congress.— This section does not authorize the Secretary, Under Secretary, or Administrator to withhold information from a committee of Congress authorized to have the information.

In this section, the word “Administrator” in section 902(f) of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 (Public Law 85–726, 72 Stat. 785) is retained on authority of 49:106(g).

In subsection (a), before clause (1), the words “fined under title 18” are substituted for “a fine of not more than $5,000” for consistency with title 18. The words “upon conviction thereof be subject for each offense” are omitted as surplus. The words “any fact or” are omitted as being included in “information”. In clause (1), the words “the Secretary, Administrator, officer, or employee acquires” are substituted for “may come to his knowledge” for clarity and consistency.

In subsection (b)(2), the words “or a judge thereof” are omitted as surplus.

In subsection (c), the word “duly” is omitted as surplus.

Amendments

2001—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 107–71, § 140(d)(6), in introductory provisions, inserted “the Under Secretary of Transportation for Security with respect to security duties and powers designated to be carried out by the Under Secretary,” after “Transportation,” and “Under Secretary,” after “Secretary,” and substituted “, Under Secretary, or Administrator” for “or Administrator”.

For transfer of functions, personnel, assets, and liabilities of the Transportation Security Administration of the Department of Transportation, including the functions of the Secretary of Transportation, and of the Under Secretary of Transportation for Security, relating thereto, to the Secretary of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see sections
203(2),
551(d),
552(d), and
557 of Title
6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section
542 of Title
6.